Bill > S2102

This bill amends Section 7 of Chapter 66 of the Massachusetts General Laws to improve public access to historical records related to state institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions. Specifically, the bill mandates that records held by the state secretary from these institutions will become fully accessible to the public for inspection and copying after 75 years have passed since their original creation. This provision aims to increase transparency and allow researchers, historians, and the public to review historical documents about institutional care, potentially shedding light on past practices and conditions in these facilities. By setting a clear timeline for record accessibility, the bill provides a standard process for making these sensitive historical records available for public examination while also respecting potential privacy concerns by implementing a significant time delay before disclosure.